Hydraulic ore-concentrator.



J G. KIRKSEY. HYDRAULIC ORE GONGENTRATOR.

Patented July-19, 1910.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1909.

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Wilm- J. G. KIRKSEY.

HYDRAULIC ORE CONUENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13

Patented July 19, 1910.

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JOHN G. KIRKSEY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

HYDRAULIC ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN G. KIRKsEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHydraulic Ore-Concentrators; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description. of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of hydraulic oreconcentrators, by which crushed ore together with other foreign matteras it comes from a crusher and pulverizer, is commingled with water andpassed through a series of separating tanks, and it pertains moreespecially, among other things, to the device by which a certainpercentage of such refuse matter, mud, silt, and other light wastematerial is removed from the valuable ore or material of greaterspecific gravity, as it passes through the first and each successivetank of the series, and whereby the heavier and more valuable productspass on from the first to the second, and each succeeding tank of theseries and from thence to the tables for final concentration.

My invention is further explained by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of thisimproved apparatus with parts broken out. Fig. 2 is a side elevationthereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view thereof drawn on aline between the discharge opening 7 of the hopper and the upper edge ofthe trough 16. Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one of the lower discharge gates.

In the embodiment illustrated, a plurality of tanks 1 are shown arrangedone above the other, preferably in step-like relation, four beingpreferably used. These tanks, which are made of any suitable material,preferably of steel, are mounted on a supporting frame 2 of any suitableconstruction, the base of which is preferably of angle irons, providedwith apertures for bolting the frame to a foundation or otherwise. Eachof the tanks preferably comprises a back 3, a downwardly inclined member4 made somewhat lower at its upper end than the back 3, and having a de-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 13, 1909.

Patented July 19, 1910. Serial No. 477,655.

pending longitudinally extending lip 5, at its lower edge for connectingthe receptacle with the upper end of the back member of the nextseparating tank below it, being secured thereto by bolts or othersuitable means.

The tank 1 is provided with a hopper 6 secured to the upper end of theback memher 3, and extending into the tank 1, said hopper having acontracted discharge opening 7 at its lower end which opens into thetank at a point below the normal water level thereof. Guides 8 areformed on the inner faces of the opposite ends of the tank 1 to receivea vertically adjustable partition 9 for a purpose to be described. Apipe 10 extends longitudinally of the discharge compartment 11 of thetank 1, preferably near the bottom thereof and is provided with upwardlyopening apertures 12 for the upward passage of the water admittedthrough said pipe as will be hereinafter described. One end of this pipe10 extends through one end of the tank 1 and is connected by a valvedwater supply pipe 13 which is preferably connected through a coupling14: with a main water supply pipe 15 leading from a tank or othersuitable water supply disposed above the uppermost tank of the series,and giving a uniform head pressure of the water. A trough 16 is securedto the face of the front member 4: of the tank 1 preferably near itsupper end with its open end inclined downwardly as shown in Fig. 1, topermit the water and waste material overflowing thereinto to pass offand by launders out of the building from each of these tanks.

Arranged near the bottom of the discharge compartment 11 are a pluralityof spigots 17, arranged in the front member 4 and these openings areprovided with adjustable closures or gates 18, for varying the size ofthe openings to permit more or less water to pass therethrough as may bedesired. It will thus be evident that the volume of water and materialpermitted to flow through these gates, at the bottom of each dischargecompartment may be regulated by operating the closures for said openingsand the valves in the pipe 13 must be adjusted to permit suflicientwater to flow into said discharge compartment to replace the water whichflows over the upper edge of the weir or front member 4 into thelaunders.

A suitable feed trough 19 may be arranged to discharge into thereceiving hopper 6 of the uppermost tank 1 to feed the material mixedwith water into the apparatus, the material having first been ground tothe proper fineness to free the ore from the rock.

In the operation of this machine, the discharge gates of each tank areopened or closed to permit a given quantity of material and water topass therethrough, without clogging the valves or gates. The material,with a good supply of water, coming from the pulverizing machines passesthrough the trough 19 into the receiving hopper 6 of the uppermost tankand escapes through the contracted discharge mouth 7 of the feed hopper6 into the dis charge compartment 11 and below the water level thereof,sufficient water having been added through the valves in the pipe 13 toproduce a current and overflow into the troughs 16 sufficient only tocarry with it a part of the fine waste. The pricipitated material fromthis topmost tank passes through the spigots 17 into the next tankbelow, in which the same overflowing process takes place and likewisethrough all the other tanks of the series. The precipitated materialleaving the lowermost tank is carried to tables for final concentration.Hence by passing the material through the plurality of separating tanks,practically all of the fine particles, slimes, mud, silt, etc. may beseparated from the coarser residue and the values; the overflowingwater, as explained, from each tank carrying out some of this fine wastematter, and, thus step by step the greater part of this objectionablefine waste is eliminated and which could not be so well accomplishedwith but one or two of these tanks; or where this coarser material wouldbe subjected to a less number of such treatments. To illustrate morefully: Say from the topmost tank this regulable current or overflowcarries out 15 to 20 per cent. of the fine waste, the remainder of thefines of greater specific gravity being precipitated along with thecoarse and passing to the next tank below through the spigots 17, thenfrom this next tank a further 15 or 20 per cent. is overflowed and so onthrough the other tanks of the series, finally resulting in the coarserresidue being practically freed from these detrimental slimes, andwithout loss of the higher specific gravity values and thus producing aproduct which can be further concentrated without loss of the values insame. The eliminating of this fine waste matter, little by little, stepby step, or by repeated treatments of the coarser material, includingthe heavier ore values, suggests the principles upon which this machineis constructed and operated and upon which the claims herein are basedand various changes in the form, proportion, constructlon andarrangement may be resorted to wlthout departing from these principlesor sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

It will be understood that the object of the vertical partition 9 is toregulate the size of the waste matter overflow. For example,

the low er the partition 9 is adjusted, the lower the waste matter iscompelled to descend in the water in order to pass beneath the loweredge of such partition before escaping from the tank with the overflow,and as a consequence, when adjusted at a lower lever, a less quantity ofwaste matter would be discharged with the over flow. IVhen, however, thepartition is adjusted on a higher level, the larger particles of wastematter will be caused under a given hydraulic pressure to pass with thewater to the over flow. It follows that by adjusting the partition 9higher or lower, the escape of the waste matter may be properlyregulated to accomplish the desired object.

By regulating the Volume of overflowing water from each tank asexplained, and by proper adjustment of the partition 9, an almostuniform maximum size of the waste matter can be overflowed from eachtank and when these simple adjustments are once made, for a somewhatuniform tonnage of material, they need not be changed nor does themachine require any special attention or care. 7

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hydraulic ore concentrator of the described class, thecombination of a vertical series of separating tanks, connected witheach other and each provided with a weir for the escape of water and theremoval of refuse material, a feed hopper con nected with each of saidtanks, the feed hopper of each tank after the first being connected withone side of the preceding tank and adapted to receive the settledproducts therefrom and discharge the same below the surface of the waterin such tank, means for supplying an upward current of water in saidtanks past the discharge ends of said hoppers to said weir, means forconducting the ore from the upper to the next and each succeeding lowertank of the series, means for regulating the admission of water to theseveral tanks, and means for regulating the escape of water and ore fromone of said.

tanks to another and from the last tank of the series to the place ofdeposit.

2. In a hydraulic ore concentrator of the described class, thecombination of a vertical series of separating tanks, connected witheach other and each provided with a weir for the escape of Water and theremoval of refuse material, a trough for the I reception of the wastematerial discharged from said tanks, a feed hopper connected with eachof said tanks, the feed hopper of each tank after the first beingconnected with one side of the preceding tank and adapted to receive thesettled products therefrom and discharge the same below the surface ofthe water in such tank, means for supplying an upward current of waterin said tanks, past the discharge ends of said hoppers to said weir,means for conducting the ore from the upper to the next and eachsucceeding lower tank of the series, means for regulating the admissionof water to the several tanks, and means for regulating the escape ofwater and ore from one of said tanks to another, and from the last tankof the series to the place of deposit.

3. In a hydraulic ore concentrator of the described class for separatingand removing waste refuse material from valuable crushed ore, thecombination of a plurality of ore separating tanks arranged one aboveanother, each tank having a weir or over flow passage for the escape ofwater and the removal of waste material from the concentrator, a hopperlocated in each of said tanks, the hopper of each tank below the firstbeing connected with the preceding tank and having its discharge endbelow the plane of said weir and adapted to receive the settled productsfrom the tank above and discharge the same below the surface of thewater in its inclosing tank, means for supplying an upward current ofwater in said tanks past the discharge ends of said hoppers to saidweir, an adjustable partition located between the discharge end of saidhopper and said over flow passage, means for conducting the ore from theupper to the next and each succeeding lower tank of the series, meansfor regulating the admission of water to the several tanks, and meansfor regulating the escape of water and ore from one of said tanks toanother and from the last tank of the series to the I I I I I I I placeof deposit, said partition being adapted by its vertical adjustment toregulate the separation of the waste material from the valuable ore.

l. In a hydraulic ore concentrator of the described class for separatingand removing waste refuse material from valuable crushed ore, thecombination of a plurality of ore separating tanks arranged one aboveanother, each tank having a weir or over flow passage for the escape ofwater and the removal of waste material from the concentrator, a troughfor the reception of the waste material discharged from said tanks bythe up current of water, a hopper located in each of said tanks, thehopper of each tank below the first being connected with the precedingtank and having its discharge end below the plane of said weir andadapted to receive the settled products from the tank above anddischarge the same below the surface of the water in its inclosing tank,means for supplying an upward current of water in said tanks past thedischarge ends of said hoppers to said weir, an adjustable partitionlocated between the discharge end of said hopper and said overflowpassage, means for conducting the ore from the upper to the next andeach succeeding lower tank of the series, means for regulating theadmission of water to the several tanks, and means for regulating theescape of water and ore from one of said tanks to another and from thelast tank of the series to the place of deposit, said partition beingadapted by its vertical adjustment to regulate the separation of thewaste material from the valuable ore, all substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN G. KIRKSEY. lVitnesses:

J. E. WIEDISH,

WV. L. CHENEY.

